The U.S. is in the grips of a historic measles surge, with more than 3,000 measles cases reported in 45 states across the country since the start of 2025. So far, two unvaccinated children have died from the disease. At least 920 people have been infected in South Carolina, and a similar number in Texas. In both states, nearly all infected individuals were unvaccinated.

Now Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, is urging Americans to get the measles vaccine as the country is on the brink of losing its measles elimination status.

“Take the vaccine, please. We have a solution for our problem,” Oz said on CNN’s State of Union on Sunday. “Not all illnesses are equally dangerous, and not all people are equally susceptible to those illnesses. But measles is one you should get your vaccine [for],” Oz said.

    • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.works
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      5 days ago

      You might have meant wretched. “retched” is a single-syllable word meaning dry heaved. I mean, I will believe you if you told me he makes you gag.

      • Etterra
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        5 days ago

        That was a typo and I did mean wretched, however it’s not impossible that he came into existence by being vomited up by some Eldritch entity.

      • thespcicifcocean@lemmy.world
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        5 days ago

        I’ve noticed an uptick in people spelling it without the w, and even changing the spelling to “ratchet”. I’m not sure if it’s a joke and at thins point, I’m too afraid to ask.

        • altphoto@lemmy.today
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          5 days ago

          Hey, don’t get retched, pass me that wretched ratchet, I got some rat shit on my shirt and now I’m also retched.

        • Captain Aggravated@sh.itjust.works
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          5 days ago

          We are talking about the removal of a silent W which is probably there because someone who wore breeches wanted to make literacy harder for the poor.